Quantum Technology For Sustainable Development

The United Nations General Assembly has formally named 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). This global initiative, supported by UNESCO, strives to improve quantum mechanics and highlight its critical role in modern scientific and technological progress. The UN's formal resolution, passed in 2023, calls for global cooperation to assist the development and understanding of quantum technologies, assuring their positive impact on humanity. Quantum physics, or the study of matter and energy on the lowest scales, has transformed our knowledge of the cosmos. 

Unlike classical physics, which describes the motion of planets and the behaviour of ordinary objects, quantum mechanics is concerned with subatomic particles such as electrons, photons, and quarks. This microscopic world follows unusual principles, such as particles existing in several states at the same time or two particles becoming entangled and affecting one other over long distance.  These quantum phenomena have resulted in technology such as semiconductors, lasers, and MRI machines, which are critical in contemporary medical, communication, and computing. 

Sustainable Development

However, quantum mechanics has changed our fundamental understanding of reality, produced paradoxes, and challenged long-held ideas about how the universe works. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, named after German physicist Werner Heisenberg, is one of the most widely recognised laws in quantum mechanics. This principle states that it is impossible to know both a particle's position and momentum with absolute certainty. The better we know one, the less we know about the other. This approach profoundly undermines classical determinism by introducing a probabilistic character to the universe at the quantum level. 

The UN's proclamation is consistent with the global goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Quantum technologies have the potential to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by solving important concerns in areas such as climate change, energy, food security, and clean water.  For example, quantum computing, one of the most promising fields of research, has the potential to significantly expedite the discovery of new materials, resulting in more effective solar cells, batteries, and even systems for capturing carbon from the atmosphere. Quantum sensors could be used to monitor environmental changes with extraordinary precision, assisting in catastrophe prevention and environmental conservation. 

The IYQ initiative will serve as a platform to showcase how quantum technologies can be harnessed to advance these global goals. Werner Heisenberg, a founding figure in quantum physics, contributed significantly to our understanding of the quantum environment. Heisenberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 for developing quantum mechanics, and his work has had a long-term impact on science and technology. His Uncertainty Principle, first postulated in 1927, is now a cornerstone of quantum theory, underlining the limitations of human knowledge in measuring the universe's smallest building elements.  

The Uncertainty Principle shows a fundamental truth about the universe: the more we strive to understand one element of a particle, the less we learn about another. This idea has substantial consequences for subjects such as particle physics, where researchers utilise it to investigate the behaviour of basic particles. Quantum technology is fast growing, with scientists and engineers creating new applications that have the potential to alter industries. Quantum computing is one of quantum research's most interesting fields. Unlike classical computers, which utilise bits as the basic unit of information (either 0 or 1), quantum computers employ qubits, which can be in several states at the same time due to superposition. This enables quantum computers to do complicated calculations at speeds that classical machines cannot achieve. 

Quantum computers hold the potential to revolutionise fields like cryptography, material science, and drug discovery. For example, they could break current encryption methods, leading to more secure communication systems. In drug discovery, quantum computers could simulate molecular interactions at a level of detail that classical computers cannot achieve, speeding up the development of new medicines. Another area of significant interest is quantum communication. Quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where two particles become linked and instantly affect each other regardless of distance, could enable ultra-secure communication channels. This could lead to the development of quantum internet, where information can be transmitted with absolute security, potentially transforming industries like finance, defence, and healthcare. 

Ethical considerations

Quantum research, like any innovative technology, presents obstacles and ethical considerations. The advancement of quantum computing, for example, raises questions regarding data security and privacy. Current encryption technologies, which safeguard internet communications and financial transactions, may become outdated with the introduction of quantum computers capable of breaking them. This has resulted in a scramble for "quantum-safe" encryption techniques that can survive the power of quantum computers. Furthermore, the development of quantum technologies must be conducted responsibly, ensuring that the advantages are shared internationally rather than concentrated in wealthy nations. 

The UN's emphasis on international collaboration during the IYQ is critical in this sense, as it promotes fair access to quantum developments and prevents technical divides. Inclusion, an important turning point in the history of science has been reached with the designation of 2025 as the IYQ. We must increase public knowledge and encourage cooperation between scientists, educators, and policymakers as quantum mechanics continues to transform our view of the cosmos and spur technological innovation. The UN programme demonstrates how quantum technology can be used to solve global issues and enhance human existence in previously unheard-of ways.  It is obvious that quantum research holds the key to opening up new vistas in knowledge and technology as we look to the future. 

(The author is lecturer of physics at Amrit campus)